Intensive Archaeological Survey of the Proposed SAWS Westlakes Water Main Project, Bexar County, Texas

At the request of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), an intensive archaeological survey was conducted by Pape-Dawson for the proposed Westlakes Water Main project located partially within the City of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. The project will entail the installation of approximately 5.2 miles (8.4 kilometers) of new water line. Two tie-ins as well as a segment of the main alignment that crosses Loop 1604 will be bored beneath the roadways while the remainder of the line will be laid out in a trench and backfilled. The project will consist of a total area of roughly 24.5 acres (9.9 hectares) extending across both public and private land. Though the vertical depths of impact are currently unknown, the maximum depth of ground disturbance within the water easement and existing road ROW is considered to be up to 8 feet (ft) (2.4 meters [m]) below the ground surface based on typical water line design, except at the bore location where impacts may be deeper. Ground disturbance within the temporary construction easement will be minimal and should not exceed 1 ft (30 centimeters [cm]) below the current ground surface. Based on SAWS’ status as a political subdivision of the State of Texas, compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) is required. However, as no Federal funding or permitting will be required for this project, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) is not necessary. Pape-Dawson conducted an archaeological survey for the Westlakes Water Main project between February 8 and 12, 2018. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8312. The project area was subjected to a pedestrian survey with shovel testing with the exception of one parcel that could not be accessed because right-of-entry had not been obtained at the time of the survey. However, this parcel has been heavily disturbed by commercial development, and therefore, has a low potential to contain intact archaeological deposits. A total of 66 shovel tests were excavated to investigate the project area. As a result of the pedestrian survey and shovel test efforts, it was determined that archaeological deposits associated with previously recorded sites 41BX1150 and 41BX2117 extend into the current project area. Sites 41BX1150 and 41BX2117 are prehistoric lithic procurement sites of indeterminate temporal affiliation. The lithic scatter resulting from lithic procurement activities within the current project area comes within 30 m of each of these sites, largely bridging the gap between them. For this reason, PapeDawson submitted a site revisit form for 41BX1150 to TARL recommending that the two previously recorded sites (41BX1150 and 41BX2117) be combined into one site (41BX1150) and that the site boundary for site 41BX1150 be expanded to include the lithic scatter within the current project area. Within the portion of site 41BX1150 that extends into the current project area, no diagnostic material or features were observed. Lithic artifacts were primarily limited to the ground surface though a few artifacts were recovered subsurface at depths ranging from 0 to 20 cm below surface. Given the absence of diagnostic material and/or features, and the lack of intact subsurface deposits, Pape-Dawson recommends that the portion of site 41BX1150 within the current project area is not eligible for SAL designation. Based on the results of the survey, Pape-Dawson recommends that no further archaeological work is necessary and that the project be allowed to proceed. However, if undiscovered cultural material is encountered during construction, it is recommended that all work in the vicinity should cease and that the discovery be evaluated by a qualified archaeologist who can provide guidance on how to proceed in accordance with state regulations

Archeological Investigations of the Proposed Leon Creek Emergency Bank Stabilization Project San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

On April 8, 2013, Atkins North America, Inc. (Atkins) conducted an emergency archaeological survey for the proposed City of San Antonio (COSA)-sponsored Leon Creek Emergency Bank Stabilization project in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The project will include the removal of concrete that has been dumped along the north side of the Leon Creek channel as well as approximately 500 feet of immediate stabilization improvements along Leon Creek’s south channel wall. The project area is defined as the footprint of the proposed stabilization improvements along the north and south channel walls of Leon Creek. The proposed project is located on COSA-owned land and is locally funded; therefore, compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas is required. In addition, the project will require a Section 404 permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and therefore, work was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The entirety of the project area was subjected to a pedestrian survey. The lack of soil within the well-defined, entrenched channel of Leon Creek negated the need for subsurface investigations. Archeological investigations for this project were conducted under TAC Permit #6518. This report presents the results of these investigations. No cultural resources were located or recorded during the course of the survey. Based on the results of this work, Atkins archeologists recommend no further archeological work for this project prior to its construction. All project records and photographs will be curated at the Center for Archeological Research at The University of Texas San Antonio

Intensive Archaeological Survey of the Proposed W.T. Montgomery Road Water Main Project, Bexar County, Texas

At the request of Blue Skies of Texas, an intensive archaeological survey was conducted by Pape-Dawson for the proposed W.T. Montgomery Water Main project located near the City of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. The project will entail the installation of approximately 1,600 feet (ft) (488 meters [m]) of new water line within a 40-ft (12.2-m) wide easement. The project area will extend along the western side of W.T. Montgomery Road and will then cross U.S. Highway 90 (US 90). The route of the water line will be bored beneath US 90 and its access roads while the remainder of the line will be laid out in a trench and backfilled. The project area will encompass a total area of 1.47 acres (0.6 ha). The depth of vertical impacts has not yet been determined. Although Blue Skies of Texas will construct the new utility line, San Antonio Water System (SAWS) will be the grantee of the easement after construction. For this reason and because part of this project is located in Bexar County and TxDOT-owned rights-of-way (ROWs), compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) is required. However, as no Federal funding or permitting will be required for this project, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was not necessary. Pape-Dawson conducted an archaeological survey for the W.T. Montgomery Water Main project on June 21, 2017. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8074. The entirety of the project area was subjected to a pedestrian survey. The majority of the project area was found to be heavily disturbed. A total of 5 shovel tests was excavated to investigate the project area and were placed in areas of least disturbance. All shovel tests were negative, and no historic or prehistoric artifacts were located and no archaeological sites were recorded as a result of this survey. Based on the results of the survey, Pape-Dawson recommends that no further archaeological work is necessary and that the project be allowed to proceed. However, if cultural material is encountered during construction, it is recommended that all work in the vicinity should cease and that the discovery be evaluated by a qualified archaeologist who can provide guidance on how to proceed in accordance with state regulations

Intensive Archeological Survey of the Proposed Bowen Tract Residential Development Project, Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas

At the request of Land Tejas Companies, LTD., an intensive archeological survey was conducted by Pape-Dawson archeologists for the proposed Bowen Tract Residential Development project located in Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas. The archeological project area was defined as the footprint of the 111-acre (45 hectare) land tract to undergo development situated east of La Salle Avenue between the Wedgewood Golf Club and State Highway 105 (also known as Lake Conroe Parkway). As the proposed project is currently in the design phase, the maximum depth of ground disturbance has not yet been established. Land Tejas Companies will construct new utility lines as part of this development. The local Municipal Utility District (MUD) will reimburse construction costs and will be the grantee of an easement or the title to the land containing the utilities after construction, which necessitates compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). No federal permitting or funding is attached to this project, so compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is not necessary. The intensive pedestrian survey was conducted by Pape-Dawson archeologists from January 13-15, 2015. The entirety of the project area was subject to visual inspection supplemented by judgmentally placed shovel tests in order to evaluate the impact of the proposed project on archeological resources. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7142. A total of 72 shovel tests were excavated, exceeding the minimum archeological survey standards established by the Council of Texas Archeologists. All shovel tests, with the exception of one, were negative for archeological material. The positive shovel test yielded one flake from within level 5 (40-50 cm below the surface), which was recorded as an isolated find. However, no archeological sites were discovered or recorded during the course of the survey. All project records and photographs will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) at the University of Texas at Austin. Based on the results of the investigation, Pape-Dawson archeologists recommend that no further archeological work is necessary for the proposed project and that the project be allowed to proceed to construction

An Intensive Archeological Survey of the Proposed U.S. 59: From Business 59 South of El Campo to SH 71, El Campo, Yoakum District Wharton County, Texas

At the request of the Texas Department of Transportation, an intensive archeological survey was conducted by Atkins for the proposed road improvements for U.S. Highway 59 from Business 59 south of El Campo to State Highway 71 near El Campo, Wharton County, Texas. The proposed project will extend from the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and Business 59 to the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 71. It will have a total length of roughly 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) and range from 320 to 600 feet (98 to 183 meters) in width. The proposed project will include approximately 123 acres (49.8 hectares) of existing right of way (ROW) and will require approximately 15.3 acres (6.2 hectares) of new ROW. The intensive pedestrian survey was conducted by Atkins personnel on February 17–19, 2014. Due to land access issues at the time of the survey, 8.0 acres (3.2 hectares) of the total 15.3 acres of new ROW were unable to be surveyed. These parcels were visually inspected from the existing ROW. The work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6769. No cultural resources were located or recorded during the course of the survey. No artifacts were collected, and all project records and photographs will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin

An Intensive Archeological Survey of the Proposed US 59: From SH 71 to Business 59 north of El Campo, El Campo, Yoakum District Wharton County, Texas

At the request of the Texas Department of Transportation, an intensive archeological survey was conducted by Atkins North America, Inc. (Atkins) for the proposed road improvements for U.S. Highway (US) 59 from State Highway (SH) 71 to Business 59 north of El Campo, Wharton County, Texas. The proposed project will extend from the intersection of US 59 and SH 71 to the intersection of US 59 and Business 59 north of El Campo. It will have a total length of roughly 3.1 miles (5.0 kilometers) and range from 320 to 1,370 feet (98 to 417.5 meters) in width. The proposed project will include roughly 133 acres (53.8 hectares) of existing right of way (ROW) and will require approximately 63.5 acres (25.7 hectares) of new ROW. The intensive pedestrian survey was conducted by Atkins personnel on February 19–21, 2014. Due to access issues at the time of the survey, 6.4 acres (2.6 hectares) of the total 63.5 acres of new ROW were unable to be surveyed. These parcels were visually inspected from the existing ROW. One previously unrecorded archeological site, 41WH132, was located and recorded during the survey. Site 41WH132 represents a surface scatter of historic domestic debris, likely dating to the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. The archival evidence suggests site 41WH132 was associated with occupation and/or use of the associated property by the extended Olof Adling family during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century followed by the Pierce family during the mid-twentieth century. The Adlings and Ellwoods were among the first families of Swedish origin to settle in the El Campo area during the late nineteenth century. The site’s association with this ethnic group’s settlement in the area suggests it could be significant under Criterion A for its association with community development patterns. Additionally, the survey level research suggests the Adlings were locally significant as they were associated with the recruitment of other Swedish migrants to the area from the northern United States during this period. As a result, the site could warrant National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) consideration under Criterion B. Despite its potential eligibility for its historic associations, there are no structural remnants at the site that require evaluation under NRHP Criterion C. In addition, given the age of the underlying soils and the depth of agricultural disturbance, the site does not retain sufficient integrity to provide additional information about the occupants or Swedish settlement in general for NRHP inclusion under Criterion D or State Antiquities Landmark designation under 13 TAC 26.10. No further archeological investigations are recommended for site 41WH132 or the parcels covered by the current survey. The work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6770. No artifacts were collected, and all project records and photographs will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin

The Relationship Between Lifestyle and Eating Behaviors in College Students

A Research Methods Project supervised by Dr. Laura Wilson (Fall 2021)

Cultural Resources Investigations for the Proposed Espada Road Widening Project City of San Antonio Bexar County, Texas

Between February 2014 and October 2015, Atkins North America, Inc. (Atkins), conducted cultural resources investigations for the City of San Antonio’s (COSA’s) proposed Espada Road Widening Project. The project area extends from Southeast Interstate Loop 410 to approximately 137 meters (450 feet) west of the intersection of East Ashley Road and Espada Road, a distance of approximately 1.6 kilometers (1.0 mile), comprising 7.99 acres (3.2 hectares). The project area was subjected to an intensive pedestrian survey, which was supplemented by mechanical trenching. In total, 27 shovel tests and 9 backhoe trenches were placed in locations across the Area of Potential Effects (APE), with particular emphasis on areas potentially containing remnants of distribution laterals extending from the Espada Acequia. Although the locations of a few of the acequia laterals were visible from the surface, most have been backfilled and affected by modern disturbances. Mechanical trenching was employed in an attempt to catch the acequia laterals in cross-section, but no such features were observed. No new archaeological resources were identified during the survey. An archival review hypothesized the presence of three acequia laterals extending into the parcel immediately south of Rilling Road. Because the property currently houses a construction yard and no excavation was possible, the parcel could not be examined at the time of the surveys. Therefore, Atkins recommends that any construction within that section of the APE be monitored by a qualified archaeologist. Atkins also recommends monitoring the property at the northern end of Espada Road, where an outfall will be located. Due to the APE’s proximity to existing archaeological site 41BX260 at that location, excavation within that portion of the APE should be monitored as well

What is the optimal level of population alcohol consumption for chronic disease prevention in England? Modelling the impact of changes in average consumption levels

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the impact of achieving alternative average population alcohol consumption levels on chronic disease mortality in England. DESIGN: A macro-simulation model was built to simultaneously estimate the number of deaths from coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertensive disease, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, epilepsy and five cancers that would be averted or delayed annually as a result of changes in alcohol consumption among English adults. Counterfactual scenarios assessed the impact on alcohol-related mortalities of changing (1) the median alcohol consumption of drinkers and (2) the percentage of non-drinkers. DATA SOURCES: Risk relationships were drawn from published meta-analyses. Age- and sex-specific distributions of alcohol consumption (grams per day) for the English population in 2006 were drawn from the General Household Survey 2006, and age-, sex- and cause-specific mortality data for 2006 were provided by the Office for National Statistics. RESULTS: The optimum median consumption level for drinkers in the model was 5 g/day (about half a unit), which would avert or delay 4579 (2544 to 6590) deaths per year. Approximately equal numbers of deaths from cancers and liver disease would be delayed or averted (∼2800 for each), while there was a small increase in cardiovascular mortality. The model showed no benefit in terms of reduced mortality when the proportion of non-drinkers in the population was increased. CONCLUSIONS: Current government recommendations for alcohol consumption are well above the level likely to minimise chronic disease. Public health targets should aim for a reduction in population alcohol consumption in order to reduce chronic disease mortality

Utilizing Non-Saccharomyces Yeast As Bio-Protectants During Pre-Fermentation Cold Soaking Under Different Conditions

Cold soaking is a technique used during red winemaking to alter the aroma, flavor, and phenolic content of a wine. However, cold soaking does not come without risk, as this process can result in the production of spoilage compounds such as acetic acid and ethyl acetate if excessive growth of spoilage yeast such as Hanseniaspora uvarum occurs. While the addition of sulfur dioxide (SO2) can restrict the growth of H. uvarum, SO2 will also decrease the populations of potentially beneficial non-Saccharomyces yeast. Furthermore, there is renewed emphasis on lowering the amount of SO2 used during winemaking due to potential health concerns. This study investigates an alternative technique to prevent spoilage during cold soak through the addition of a high population of a non-Saccharomyces yeast as a bio-protectant. Initial experiments in a model grape juice demonstrated that the addition of a commercial non-Saccharomyces culture at a high inoculation could control the growth of the spoilage yeast H. uvarum and decrease acetic acid production. Three non-Saccharomyces yeast, Lachancea thermotolerans Concerto™, Metschnikowia fructicola Gaïa™, and Torulaspora delbrueckii Prelude™ were investigated to determine their effectiveness in reducing growth of H. uvarum OSU-2a during a six-day cold soak in model grape juice (MGJ) at 8⁰C. Only M. fructicola Gaïa™ noticeably repressed growth of H. uvarum, and additionally was found to lower acetic acid. T. delbrueckii Prelude™, despite not having much of an effect on H. uvarum growth, was the most effective in lowering acetic acid concentrations. Unlike previous research, L. thermotolerans Concerto™ did not impact H. uvarum growth or the production of acetic acid. M. fructicola Gaïa™ and T. delbrueckii Prelude™ were used in additional experiments to investigate the impact of SO2 and temperature on their ability to repress H. uvarum in MGJ. When no SO2 was added, both M. fructicola and T. delbrueckii inhibited H. uvarum growth with M. fructicola inhibiting growth to a greater extent. The addition of 20 mg/L SO2 resulted in similar repression of H. uvarum by M. fructicola but little growth repression was observed when T. delbrueckii was added. At 40 mg/L SO2, H. uvarum populations declined whether M. fructicola or T. delbrueckii had been added or not. However, H. uvarum populations recovered near the end of the six-day cold soak when grown alone, while populations remained low if M. fructicola or T. delbrueckii had been added. A decrease in acetic acid occurred when either M. fructicola or T. delbrueckii were added with or without SO2. However, the greatest relative decrease in acetic acid was observed when a combination of M. fructicola and SO2 was added. Increasing the temperature of the cold soak from 8°C to either 10°C or 13°C resulted in similar growth, yet much greater production of acetic acid by H. uvarum. M. fructicola repressed H. uvarum growth at both 10°C and 13°C while T. delbrueckii did not. Acetic acid production was also lowered to a greater extent by M. fructicola than T. delbrueckii with a 66% decrease in acetic acid being measured during the 10°C cold soak. Overall, M. fructicola was more effective at reducing H. uvarum growth and lowering acetic acid production over a range of SO2 concentrations and temperatures that would be typical for a cold soak. The effectiveness of M. fructicola Gaïa™ and T. delbrueckii Prelude™ as bio-protectants against H. uvarum was further investigated during a cold soak of Pinot noir grapes at 10⁰C. Increasing additions of SO2 resulted in reduced growth of H. uvarum OSU-2a. The addition of M. fructicola Gaïa™ did not reduce the growth of H. uvarum at 0, 25, or 75 mg/L SO2, but it did reduce growth of H. uvarum at 50 mg/L SO2. The addition of SO2 and the inoculation of M. fructicola Gaïa™ both significantly decreased the amount of acetic acid in the resulting grape must, with the addition of SO2 being more effective. More notably, however, was the effectiveness of M. fructicola Gaïa™ in lowering ethyl acetate production during cold soaking. While SO2 was also effective at lowering ethyl acetate production, M. fructicola Gaïa™ lowered ethyl acetate concentration in grape must with no SO2 addition by over 90%. T. delbrueckii Prelude™ did not affect the growth of H. uvarum with the addition of 0, 25, or 75 mg/L SO2, and, unexpectedly, resulted in greater growth of H. uvarum at 50 SO2. T. delbrueckii Prelude™ was less effective in decreasing the amount of acetic acid and ethyl acetate produced during the cold soak. Overall, M. fructicola Gaïa™ was more effective at reducing H. uvarum growth and lowering production of spoilage compounds than T. delbrueckii Prelude™ over a range of typical cold soak temperatures and SO2 additions. The effectiveness of M. fructicola Gaïa™ to decrease ethyl acetate production during a Pinot noir cold soak with no or low additions of SO2 also suggests that this yeast could be used to lower the amount of SO2 needed to be added during cold soaking to prevent spoilage by H. uvarum